HC Deb 29 October 1998 vol 318 cc263-4W
Mr. Duncan Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cases of benefit fraud have been successfully prosecuted in each month since 1 May 1997. [53110]

Mr. Denham

Tackling fraud and abuse is a top priority for the Government. However, questions on Benefit Agency operational matters are the responsibility of its Chief Executive, Peter Mathison. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. lain Duncan Smith, dated 31 July 1998: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the number of cases of benefit fraud successfully prosecuted in each month since 1st May 1997. Please find detailed in the attached table a month by month breakdown of the prosecution figures. These figures are totals combining figures from the Benefit Fraud Investigation Service who carry out locally based fraud investigations and the Benefits Agency Security Investigation Service who concentrate on serious attacks on the benefit system by organised criminals. The Department has always operated a selective cost effective and humane prosecution policy. However, as set out in the green paper "Beating Fraud is Everyone's Business: Securing the Future", the Government is committed to removing "no-go areas" where a fraudster might assume that he or she will avoid prosecution. Fraud attracting low overpayment is certainly no guarantee that a fraudster will not be prosecuted. Administrative penalties are one alternative to prosecution which the BA can now choose to offer in cases involving less serious fraud. We expect the application of this penalty to grow as staff become familiar with its use and we intend to evaluate the effectiveness of this new sanction. I hope you find this reply helpful.

Benefit Fraud Investigation Service, Benefits Agency Security Investigation prosecution figures since May 1997
Date
May 1997 901
June 1997 1,091
July 1997 1,171
August 1997 928
September 1997 994
October 1997 953
November 1997 982
December 1997 820
January 1998 997
February 1998 874
March 1998 902
April 1998 876
May 1998 791
June 1998 845

Note:

Figures are provisional and subject to change

Mr. Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the dates when the ministerial group, established to oversee anti-fraud strategy across central Government and announced in the Green Paper "Beating Fraud is Everybody's Business" has met. [57126]

Mr. Denham

The group is to meet shortly. Subsequent meetings will follow as necessary.